What are the main features of the modern political map of America. Shaping the Political Map of Latin America

), in the Vessian Indies and on the South American mainland. The West Indies include the islands: Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles. Most of these islands were discovered during the voyages of Christopher Columbus, who mistook them for part of India. Unlike India (East Indies), these islands later became known as the West Indies. There are many states on:, and others.

The total area of the Latin America region is about 21 million km2. There are 33 sovereign states in this region, as well as possessions of France, the Netherlands and the United States. They live in: descendants of European settlers, mestizos, mulattos, Indians, blacks, migrants from different countries of the world, including European ones. Official languages: in most countries (former colonial possessions) - Spanish, - Portuguese, in Haiti and in the former possessions of France -, in and Dutch possessions - Dutch, in the rest - English.

The formation of modern political America has a long history. There is evidence that the first Europeans to reach the shores of North America were in the 5th-6th centuries. and the Normans (Vikings) in the 9th century. And people from the North may have traveled to America 2 thousand years before, leaving, according to scientists, traces of their stay in the form of inscriptions on stones in the Sherbuka region (160 km from).

Discovery, exploration and capture of territories and states of Latin America in the XV-XVII centuries. and their subsequent integration into the system were a consequence and an integral part of one of the stages in the development of European civilization. The conquests of the Ottoman Sultanate in Western Asia and the Balkans significantly hampered the use of sea and land trade routes to South and Southeast. The need to provide direct access to sources of goods that were in high demand in (spices, silk, etc.) determined the practical task of finding direct sea routes to and.

At present, the USA and Canada are two highly developed capitalist states that have enormous economic, political and financial influence on their Latin American neighbors.

In part of the world America there is also one socialist state - Cuba. Since 1898, the country was formally declared independent, but in fact it was occupied by the United States. In 1959, the liberation war against the dictatorial regime of Batista ended, and for almost 40 years the country has been ruled by Fidel Castro Ruz (head of state, chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers).

Confirming the goal of building a communist society, the Cuban constitution of 1992, as an ideological basis, now brings to the fore national liberation ideals, the principles of independence, sovereignty and identity. However, elements of a market economy are being introduced into the economic complex of the country.

The remaining countries of the Americas (Latin American countries) belong to the group of developing countries. Most of them gained independence in the last century during the national liberation wars of 1810-1825, in which broad sections of the population took part: Indian peasants, blacks and mestizos, revolutionary intelligentsia, part of the clergy, representatives of the Creole nobility and merchants.

At the beginning of the XIX century. Gained independence: Haiti (1804), (1809), (1811), (1816), Chile (1818), Nicaragua, Colombia (1821), Brazil (1822) ), Bolivia (1825). A republican system was established in all states (only until 1889 the monarchy was preserved).

The states of Latin America have come a long way in the development of capitalism. They are exceptionally rich in natural resources, have a unique and eventful history, original culture. In many indicators of socio-economic development, these countries are ahead of many developing countries in Asia and Africa, but they lag far behind the industrialized ones.

From the period of their inception to the present, these countries have been in strong economic and financial dependence, first on European states, and later on the United States. At the same time, within the region there are very significant differences in the level of socio-economic development between individual countries.

According to the typology of MSU scientists, Latin American countries are grouped as follows:

1. Key countries of high potential: Brazil and Mexico.

2. Resettlement countries of the early development of dependent capitalism: and Uruguay.

Countries of large-scale development of capitalism: Venezuela and Chile.
Countries of outward-oriented adaptive development of capitalism: Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador.

Small countries of dependent plantation economy: Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti, etc.
Small countries of "concession development" of capitalism: Jamaica, Suriname.
Small countries - "landlords" (islands or coastal countries located at the crossroads of trade routes; countries of "tax paradise", "hotel countries", countries of the "flag of convenience"): Bermuda (brit.), Cayman Islands (brit. ) and etc.

For a century and a half of independent development of countries south of the river. The Rio Grande has accumulated a large number of serious problems. It was the Latin American countries that gave countless examples of military participation in economic and political life. Only in, according to historians, more than 190 military coups were committed.

There is geopolitical rivalry between the major countries of this region, territorial disputes and claims that cause armed conflicts and wars have not become a thing of the past, and the threat of military coups and civil wars has not been completely removed from the agenda.

Latin America is going through something today that does not fit into the idea of a democratic process (although this is often reported). Sometimes one gets the impression that the generals are returning to power again (Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia).

Nevertheless, among the developing countries, it was the countries of Latin America that were the first to embark on the path of economic integration, which is a process of internationalization of economic ties in order to accelerate and intensify economic development.

The following trading blocs currently exist in Latin America: the Latin American Integration Association (LAI), the Andean Pact, the Common Market of the Southern Cone (MERCOSUR), the Central American Common Market, the Caribbean Common Market, the Organization of Central American States and related institutions I (for example, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, etc.).

There are organizations for the creation of joint facilities and the use of natural resources, such as: Latin American Economic System (LAES), pact, group and related investment institutions (Inter-American Savings and Loan Bank, Latin American Export Bank, etc.).

Within the framework of the Organization of American States (OAS), since 1960, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has been operating, which also provides funds for the implementation of joint projects in the region.

Some of the countries in this region are also members of trade associations that serve to coordinate positions and protect the interests of exporting countries (especially exporters of monocultures) in foreign markets. These are trade associations: Alliance of Cocoa Producers, Intergovernmental Council of Copper Exporting Countries, Organization of Exporting Countries (), Union of Banana Exporting Countries.

Structural shifts taking place in the economy lead to the emergence of new trends in the development of integration processes. States are involved in integration groupings, in which the leading role is played economically. These are the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC - English ARES), etc. Negotiations are underway to form a free trade zone in the entire Western Hemisphere.

History of discovery and development. In the part of the world America, consisting of two continents - North and South America, connected by the Isthmus of Panama, there are more than 40 countries and territories. It also includes the island of Greenland (part of the territory of the European state of Denmark, which has internal autonomy).

How many times has America been discovered?

Columbus and his companions were not the first inhabitants of the Old World to visit America. There are assumptions about visiting America by Arab and Egyptian navigators, the possibility of such trips was proved by the expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl. Archaeological finds confirm the campaigns of the Normans in Greenland in the 9th century. The campaigns were led by Eric Turvaldson, who lived at that time in Iceland, nicknamed Raudi (“Redhead”). It was he who named the coast Greenland ("Green Land"). Perhaps he wanted to attract the beautiful name of the Icelanders in order to convince them to settle there. Or maybe the name originally referred only to some parts of the southwestern coast, protected from cold winds.

Later, Leif the Happy, the son of Eric the Red, went to the shores of Greenland. It is believed that he landed on the island of Newfoundland, which he called Vinland ("Rich Country"), as many wild berries grew in the vicinity. However, the Normans failed to establish a permanent colony in Vinland, but they discovered the Baffin Sea, Baffin Island, Hudson Bay.

Rice. 75. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)

There are two geohistorical regions in America - Latin America and Anglo-Saxon America. Anglo-Saxon America includes the USA and Canada; to Latin - actually South America, Central America and the countries of the West Indies (Caribbean). The border between the regions runs along the Rio Grande, which is the border between Mexico and the United States.

The discoverer of America is Christopher Columbus (Fig. 78), in 1492, with the blessing of the King and Queen of Spain - Ferdinand and Isabella, set sail in search of the shortest western route to India. The route to the east across the Indian Ocean was known, but unacceptable to the Spaniards, because this hemisphere was completely dominated by Britain.

On October 12, 1492, Columbus's companions landed on the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. This date is considered the official date of the discovery of America. Colonization began with the islands of the Caribbean, which became springboards for the political and economic development of other parts of America. In the first quarter of the XVI century. Central America was colonized, a little later the Spanish conquistadors passed through the intermountain Andean valleys to South America.

In America, Europeans met with local civilizations. By the beginning of the Conquista, there was a powerful Aztec state with its capital in Tenochtitlan on the Mexican Highlands, the Mayan city-states on the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Inca Empire with its capital in Cuzco in the Andes and on the Pacific coast of South America. These civilizations have made significant progress in the development of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, fine arts and architecture. The Aztecs and Incas put up fierce resistance to the Europeans, but their states were destroyed in the fight against the conquistadors.

In 1494, the first treaty in modern history on the division of the world was concluded - Tordesillas (Fig. 76). According to it, the entire globe was divided into two parts along a conditional line passing in the Atlantic Ocean through both poles, 370 leagues (over 2 thousand km) from the westernmost part of the Cape Verde Islands. To the east of this imaginary line, all the sea and lands were recognized as the possessions of Portugal, to the west - to Spain. In the sphere of domination of Portugal was only the northeastern ledge of South America (part of modern Brazil). Almost the entire territory of America fell into the "Spanish part of the world", therefore most of the modern states of America are former colonies of Spain. On the conquered lands, new administrative-territorial units were created - vice-kingdoms: New Spain (the modern territory of Mexico and neighboring states) and Peru, as well as captaincy generals and governor generals. Later, in the 18th century, the viceroyalties of New Granada (on the territory of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela) and Rio de la Plata were formed. Brazil was a Portuguese colony.

Natives of England settled on the east coast of the North Atlantic, 13 English colonies subsequently began the struggle for independence, which marked the beginning of the creation of the United States. France owned the western part of the island of Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Pierre and Miquelon and other islands in the Caribbean, as well as French Guiana in the north of South America.

Rice. 76. Borders between the possessions of Spain and Portugal

Some territories were held by the European powers alternately. For example, Suriname was first a Spanish colony, then an English one, then the Netherlands exchanged its colony of New Amsterdam (now New York, the largest city in the USA) from Great Britain for it.

The formation of a new political map of the region was accompanied by the extermination of the indigenous inhabitants of the continent, who were subjected to physical destruction, died from excessively hard work in the mines and plantations.

The liberation movement in America began in the 18th century, when the United States won independence (1776). In 1780, a major uprising was raised in Peru, which the Spaniards brutally suppressed by 1783. In 1791, a revolution of Negro slaves took place in the French colony of San Domingo (western part of the island of Haiti), who achieved recognition of the autonomy of the island and the abolition of slavery . In 1804, the independence of San Domingo (now the Republic of Haiti) was proclaimed.

At the beginning of the XX century. as a result of the wars of independence in the Spanish colonies, sovereign states were formed in most of Latin America.

In the first half of the XIX century. the former French colony of Haiti (1804) gained independence - the first independent state in Latin America, the colonies of Spain - Ecuador (1809), Colombia, Mexico, Chile (1810), Paraguay, Venezuela (1811), Argentina (1816), Dominican Republic, Costa -Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala (1821), the Portuguese colony of Brazil (1822), the Spanish colonies of Uruguay and Bolivia (1825).

Simon Bolivar and the Liberation Struggle of the Peoples of South America

Simon Bolivar was born in 1783 in Caracas (Venezuela) in the family of a Creole aristocrat. He spent his youth in Europe, where, under the influence of the French Revolution, he swore an oath to devote his life to the liberation of his homeland from colonial dependence.

In 1813, he led a campaign that ended with the capture of Caracas, was proclaimed president of the Second Republic and was awarded the honorary title of Liberator. But a year later, having been defeated by the Spaniards, Bolivar was forced to emigrate to Jamaica, and then to Haiti, from where he twice made attacks on the territory of Venezuela.

In 1819, he defeated the Spanish army at the Battle of Boyaca, liberated New Granada and was elected president of the Republic of Great Colombia created within its borders. It included almost the entire territory of the Northern Andes within modern Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, and in 1821 Panama voluntarily joined them.

Two years later, having finally completed the defeat of the Spanish forces in Venezuela, the Bolívar army liberated the province of Quito (modern Ecuador), and in 1824 - Peru. The Constituent Congress of the republic, formed on the territory of Upper Peru, decided to name it Bolivia in honor of the Liberator.

The victories won by Bolivar actually put an end to Spanish colonial rule in South America, slavery was abolished here, and a republican form of government was established.

Rice. 77. Simon Bolivar (1783-1830)

A republican system was established in all states, only in Brazil until 1889 the monarchy was preserved.

From different colonies formed the territory of the modern United States. The French (since 1731) colony of Louisiana in 1762, as a result of the war, passed to Spain, and in 1800 returned to France again. In 1803, the United States bought Louisiana for $15 million, doubling its territory. In 1836, the United States annexed Texas, in 1846-1848. - the territory belonging to Mexico to the Great Salt Lake. California and New Mexico (the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico) were purchased from Spain in 1848 for $18.25 million.

In 1867, Canada (a British colony) was granted dominion status.

In 1864-1870. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay waged war against Paraguay, which lost half of its territory and lost a significant part of its population.

In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the United States seized Puerto Rico and occupied Cuba. By the beginning of the XX century. 27% of the territory of America was occupied by colonial possessions: Great Britain (the largest) - the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Guiana, British Honduras (now Belize), Canada, Windward Islands, Newfoundland, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Falkland Islands, Jamaica; Denmark - Danish West Indies, Greenland; the possessions of the Netherlands were the Netherlands West Indies, Curaçao, the Netherlands Guiana (Suriname); USA - Alaska, Puerto Rico; France - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Forms of government and government. Most of the states in the region are unitary republics. Federative Republics - Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, USA, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Non-self-governing territories: British possessions - Anguilla, Bermuda, the Virgin (British) Islands, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Terke and Caicos, the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (a disputed territory of Great Britain and Argentina), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; USA - Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico (freely associated with the USA); France - Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique (overseas departments); Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (overseas communities). As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten are self-governing states; Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are special communities.

Independent member states of the Commonwealth: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, Canada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica.

The main events of the XX - beginning of the XXI century.

1902- Cuban independence declared.

1903- The independence of Panama (formerly the department of Colombia) was proclaimed.

1916- Date of the co-American convention on the cession of the Danish West Indies to the USA: Denmark sold the islands of St. Thomas (St. Tomas), St. John (St. John) and the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) for $ 25 million , as well as the Virgin Islands (transferred in 1917).

1922- Suriname received the status of an annexed territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

1931- Great Britain recognized Canada's complete independence in domestic and foreign policy.

1938- the signing of an agreement between Bolivia and Paraguay, which ended the war of 1932-1935. because of the Gran Chaco region (3/4 of its territory passed to Paraguay).

1946- The French government passed a law granting the status of overseas departments to the colonies of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique.

1948- Establishment of the Organization of American States.

1952- the island of Puerto Rico (US possession) received the status of free association with the United States.

1954- Dutch Guiana received the status of an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the rights of internal self-government.

1956 The British colony of Trinidad and Tobago received limited internal self-government.

1958- the formation of the West Indies Federation as part of the British possessions in the Caribbean: the Cayman Islands, Barbados, the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands (except the British Virgin Islands), Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (until 1956 - part of the Windward Islands colony).

Alaska is admitted as the 49th state of the United States.

1959- The Hawaiian Islands are accepted as the 50th state of the United States. Revolution in Cuba (Fig. 78).

The British colony Terke and Caicos (in 1874-1962 was part of Jamaica) received internal self-government.

1961- provision of internal self-government to Barbados.

1962- The collapse of the West Indies Federation. Trinidad and Tobago proclaimed independence. Jamaica declared independence.

1964- Granted internal self-government to the Bahamas, British Honduras.

1966- The independence of Barbados and Guyana was proclaimed.

1967- the status of a state associated with Great Britain with the rights of internal self-government was granted to the colonies of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Saint Lucia.

1969- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines received the status of a state associated with Great Britain.

1973- British Honduras renamed to Belize. The independence of the Bahamas is proclaimed. 1975 - Independence of Suriname is proclaimed.

1978 Dominica declared independence.

1979- Gained independence Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia.

1980- Anguilla left the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

1981- Granted independence to the state of Antigua and Barbuda.

Belize's independence is proclaimed.

1982- the capture by Argentine troops of the Falkland Islands, which have been in the possession of Great Britain since 1833, retaliatory military operations by Great Britain (a temporary agreement on the cessation of hostilities was signed in 1983).

1983- US intervention against Grenada. Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence.

1986- Aruba withdrew from the Federation of the Netherlands Antilles.

2007- according to the results of the 2003 referendum (the population of the northern part of the island of St. Martin voted for secession from Guadeloupe), Saint-Martin became an overseas community within France.

2010- the collapse of the Netherlands Antilles (as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curacao and Sint Maarten became self-governing states, and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba became special communities).

Territorial disputes between countries arose mainly from the possession of potentially resource-rich areas and the uncertain status of borders left over from colonial times.

Rice. 78. Fidel Castro - President of Cuba (1976-2008)

Rice. 79. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

In the Pacific War 1879-1884. Chile fought against Peru and Bolivia for possession of the Atacama Desert. This war was "fueled" by the interests of the imperialist powers of Europe and the USA in strategic raw materials: gunpowder was made from saltpeter mined here, copper was used for brass for cartridge cases and artillery shells. The war ended with the victory of Chile, while Bolivia lost access to the Pacific Ocean.

Somewhat earlier (1864-1870), the Triple Alliance formed by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay waged war with Paraguay, which as a result lost half of its territory and lost a significant part of its population.

In 1902-1903. Bolivia unsuccessfully fought with Brazil for the right to own the southwestern Amazon, rich in rubber. This war, inspired by British capital, was called the "war of the rubber syndicate."

In 1932-1934. the so-called Leticia conflict broke out between Colombia and Peru for the right to access the Amazon, and in 1941, Ecuador, during the war with Peru, lost a significant part of the Amazon territory that was promising for oil. Since then, the border between the two countries contesting their right to this area has remained undemarcated, and until recently, real battles broke out in the border strip with bombing and landings.

Territorial disputes, generated by echoes of the colonial past of the region, include the conflict between Belize and neighboring Guatemala. But perhaps the most famous conflict was the dispute between Argentina and Great Britain over the possession of the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (1982).

Falkland Islands

International organizations. The largest political organization, which includes almost all the states of the region, is the Organization of American States (OAS). It was created in 1948 (it has been operating since 1951) at the initiative of the United States, replacing the International Union of American Republics that had existed since 1890.

Officially, the goals of the OAS were proclaimed the maintenance of peace and security in America, the peaceful settlement of disputes between member states, the joint defense against aggression, and the promotion of the social, economic and cultural development of American states.

Currently, 35 countries are members of the OAS: Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Grenada, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (in 1962 Cuba was excluded from the membership), Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, USA, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago , Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, Jamaica.

68 states of Europe, Asia, America, international organizations have the status of observers.

The seat of the main organs of the OAS is Washington (USA).

Claiming political and economic dominance in the Western Hemisphere (the slogan "America for the USA"), the United States tried to turn the OAS into an instrument for the implementation of the so-called doctrine of pan-Americanism, the slogan of which is "the common historical destinies of the American countries." The authorship of this political doctrine is attributed to President Monroe (1823). The United States has repeatedly used the OAS as a tool for economic, political and ideological expansion in Latin America. The OAS did not interfere with the US aggression in Guatemala (1954) and Panama (1964), and participated in the US intervention in the Dominican Republic (1965).

Over time, despite the constant attempts by the United States to maintain and strengthen its influence in the OAS, the Latin American states began to pursue a more independent policy. In 1979, the OAS General Assembly, having condemned the dictatorial regime of Somoza in Nicaragua, rejected the US proposal to send international armed forces to this country.

Outside the framework of the OAS, such integration groups as the Andean Commonwealth of Nations (Andean Group), the Amazon Pact, the Latin American Economic System, etc., have been created and are successfully operating.

Political map of America

What geographical regions stand out in America and what countries are included in them?
When did the colonization of America begin and which countries took part in it?
Why did Brazil become a colony of Portugal?
What political events influenced the formation of the political map of America?
List the countries of America that were colonies of Spain, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal.
When did most of the Latin American countries gain independence? What historical events influenced this process?
What form of government did the American countries choose after independence? Why?
List the federal states in America.
What were the consequences of European colonization in the Americas? Which countries are in the Commonwealth (British)? In which countries is English (French, Spanish, Portuguese) the official language?
What are the most important events of the last quarter of the 20th century? influenced the formation of the political map of America?
What interstate problems and areas of political instability in America do you know?

What is Latin America - features of the economic and geographical position. Political-geographical "partitions" of the macro-region. Discovery, exploration and capture of territories and states of Latin America. Mysterious civilizations: Maya and Aztecs - "Greeks" and "Romans" of the New World. Christopher Columbus. Spanish-Portuguese colonization and decolonization. The composition of the population. Geography of gaining independence. Typology of Latin American countries. US role in Central America

The main features of the economy of Latin American states. Features of political regimes and political culture. Federalism in the states of Latin America.

Latin America as a "special path"?

Basic literature:

Additional literature:

National processes in Central America and Mexico. M: Science, 1974

Gulyaev V.I. Mysteries of dead civilizations. M: Enlightenment, 1992

Magstadt Thomas. nations and governments. Comparative Politics in Regional Perspective. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, pp.369-478

Theme 10. Sub-regions of Latin America.

Latin American subregions. Mexico. Central America and the West Indies. Andean countries (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia). La Plata group (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay), Guiana Triangle (Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana). Brazil.

Basic literature:

Rodionova I.A. A political map of the World. M., 2001, pp.51-58

Socio-economic geography of the foreign world. Ed. V.V. Volsky. M: Kron-Press, 1998, pp.342-390

Golubchik M.M. A political map of the World. Smolensk, 1998, pp.263-275

Kissinger Henry. Does America Need a Foreign Policy? M: "Ladomir", 2002, pp.79-110

Additional literature:

Small encyclopedia of countries. Ed. N.G. Sirotenko, V.A. Mendeleva, M., 2001

Comparative Politics Today. Gabriel Almond et al. New York: Pearson, Longman. 2004 (Politics in Mexico, pp.466-519; Politics in Brazil, pp.520-579)

Seminar 5. Formation of the political map and sub-regions of Latin America.

Questions for the seminar:

List the main milestones in the formation of the system of nation-states in Latin America?

List and give a brief description of the main sub-regions of Latin America (on the map).

What types of countries form Latin America?

Why did federalism "take root" in Latin America and "not take root" on the African continent?

Topic 11. Formation of the political map and territorial structures of North America.

Colonization of North America. Thirteen Colonies: Genesis and Internal Differences. "Anglo-Saxon America". Settlement of New England - "Mayflower". War for Independence. 1776 - formation of the USA. Acceptance of the Constitution. "Federalist" by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. War between North and South. Management of the South.

Stages of settlement of the North American territory. Ordinance 1787 Homestead Act. Frontier problem. "Go West, young man, and grow with this country..."

"New France". Ontario and Quebec. Canada: the formation of a modern federal structure of the state. Quebec problem. Colonial policy of Great Britain and France on the North American continent: a comparative aspect.

USA: internal territorial political and cultural differences. Northeast (New England, Megalopolis, Upper New York, Pittburgh Pennsylvania). Midwest (Lakeland, Ohio Plains, St. Louis, Corn and Wheat Belts). American South (Old and Deep South, Florida, Cajun Gulf, Ozarks, Frontier and New South). West (Mountain West, Northwest, California). Alaska and Hawaii.

Basic literature:

Socio-economic geography of the foreign world. Ed. V.V. Volsky. M: Kron-Press, 1998, pp.297-341

Smirnyagin L.V. US regions. M: Thought, 1989

Golubchik M.M. A political map of the World. Smolensk, 1998, pp.258-262

American Space / American Place. Geography of the Contemporary United States. Ed. by J.Agnew and J.Smith, Edinburgh University Press, 2002

Gilbert Martin. Atlas of American History. London and New York: Routledge, 2006

Additional literature:

Federalist. Political essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. M: Progress, 1993

Ageev A.D. Siberia and the American West: Frontier Movement. M: Aspect Press, 2005

Zagarri Rosemarie. The Politics of Size. Ithaca and London: Cornwell University Press, 1987

All Over the Map. Rethinking American regions. The John Hopkins University Press, 1996

Zelinsky W. The Cultural Geography of the United States. Prentice-Hall, 1973

Seminar 6. Formation of the political map of North America.

Questions for the seminar:

How did the US "begin"? List and show on the map the first colonies.

What are the stages of the settlement of the North American continent?

What is the difference between the colonial policy of Great Britain and France in the North American continent?

Describe the territorial structure of the United States and Canada.

The discoverer of America is considered to be Christopher Columbus, in 1492, with the blessing of the king and queen of Spain - Ferdinand and Isabella, who sailed in search of the shortest western route to India. The route to the east across the Indian Ocean was known, but unacceptable to the Spaniards, because this hemisphere was completely dominated by Britain.

One of the first maps of the Caribbean

In America, Europeans met with local civilizations. By the beginning of the conquest, there was a powerful Aztec state with its capital in Tenochtitlan on the Mexican Highlands, the Mayan city-states on the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Inca Empire with its capital in Cuzco in the Andes and on the Pacific coast of South America. These civilizations have made significant progress in the development of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, fine arts and architecture. The Aztecs and Incas put up fierce resistance to the Europeans, but their states were destroyed in the fight against the conquistadors.

At the beginning of the twentieth century. as a result of the wars of independence in the Spanish colonies, sovereign states were formed in most of Latin America.

In the first half of the XIX century. gained independence: the former French colony of Haiti (1804) - the first independent state in Latin America, the colonies of Spain - Ecuador (1809), Colombia, Mexico, Chile (1810), Paraguay, Venezuela (1811), Argentina (1816), Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala (1821), the Portuguese colony of Brazil (1822), the Spanish colonies of Uruguay and Bolivia (1825).

A republican system was established in all states, only in Brazil until 1889 the monarchy was preserved.

From different colonies formed the territory of the modern United States. The French (since 1731) colony of Louisiana in 1762, as a result of the war, passed to Spain, and in 1800 returned to France again. In 1803, the United States bought Louisiana for $15 million, doubling its territory. In 1836, the United States annexed Texas, in 1846-1848. - the territory belonging to Mexico to the Great Salt Lake. California and New Mexico (the modern states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico) were bought from Spain in 1848 for $18.25 million. In 1867, Canada (a British colony) was granted dominion status. In 1864-1870. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay waged war against Paraguay, which lost half of its territory and lost a significant part of its population.

In 1879-1884. as a result of the Pacific War, the Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna (later returned to Peru), Arica, and the coastal regions of the Bolivian province of Atacama, rich in saltpeter and copper, went to Chile. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the United States seized Puerto Rico and occupied Cuba.

By the beginning of the XX century. 27% of the territory of America was occupied by colonial possessions. The largest were the possessions of Great Britain, which owned: the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Guiana, British Honduras (now Belize), Canada, Windward Islands, Newfoundland, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Falkland Islands, Jamaica. Denmark's possessions in the New World were the Danish West Indies, Greenland; the possessions of the Netherlands - the Netherlands West Indies, Curaçao, the Netherlands Guiana (Suriname); US possessions - Alaska, Puerto Rico; France - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Forms of government and government. Most of the states in the region unitary republics. Federal republics- Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, USA, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Non-Self-Governing Territories: possessions of the Netherlands - Antilles, Aruba; Great Britain - Anguilla, Bermuda, Virgin (British) Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Terke and Caicos Islands, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (disputed territory of Great Britain and Argentina), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; USA - Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico (freely associated with the USA); France - Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Independent member states of the Commonwealth: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, Canada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica.

The main events of the XX century.

1902- Cuban independence declared.

1903- The independence of Panama (formerly the department of Colombia) was proclaimed.

1916- Danish-American convention on the cession of the Danish West Indies to the United States: Denmark sold for $ 25 million the islands of St. Thomas (St. Thomas), St. John (St. John) and St. Cross (Santa Cruz), as well as Virgin Islands (transferred 1917).